Stratfield Saye House
Hampshire, England
Photo: Worldfootage, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Gallery: Mr Ignavy, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Mr Ignavy, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Operator
- Wellesley family (Duke of Wellington)
- Condition
- Intact
- Access
- Staffed, ticketed
- Membership
- Historic Houses members go in free - what it costs per visit
- Nearest station
- Mortimer, 2.3 miles (straight-line)
- Stays
- Overnight accommodation available
- Note
- Country seat of the Dukes of Wellington since 1817.
Pinpoint
Reading RG7 2BZ
Telephone 01256 882694
Stratfield Saye House has been the country seat of the Dukes of Wellington since 1817. Reviewers describe entry by guided tour only, with guides they found knowledgeable and personable, and a visit of an hour or so through a house that is still the family's main home. The grounds are described as well worth exploring, and there is a small tea room that reviewers speak warmly of.
At a glance
Who to know
The Dukes of Wellington · their home since 1817, granted after Waterloo
Worth the trip
The guided tour of a house still lived in by the family, which reviewers say brings out far more than a self-guided walk round would.
Before you go
Reviewers report that opening is restricted to a short season, that tours must be booked in advance, and that photography and phone use are not permitted inside because the house remains a family home; the tea room may close before tours finish.
What visitors say
Stratfield Saye House reviews · 4.6 / 5 across 122 Google reviews
Reviewers describe access as guided tour only, booked in advance, with several noting the house and grounds open for short periods of the year. The guides draw consistent praise for being knowledgeable and personable, with tours running around 90 minutes or more.
Visitors mention that photography and phones are not allowed indoors because the family still lives there, and one flags limited access upstairs for wheelchair users. Several recommend the grounds, and the stables and funeral carriage exhibition; the tea room is described as small but good, though one reviewer found it had closed by the time their tour finished.
Free parking is mentioned, with roughly a ten-minute walk to the house.
“A great experience with very knowledgeable staff who gave us an hour and change tour around the house. Nine generations of the Wellington family have lived here.”- Paul Burrow-Newton, visitor review
Practical notes from visitors
Quoted from individual Google reviews, not verified with the operator - treat as a steer, not gospel, and check before you travel.
- Parking
- “Free parking, about ten minute walk to the house, passing by the loos and cafè as you come off the parking lot.” - Touring_and_roaming
- Guided tours
- “Fantastic home, great tour guides, lovely place to visit if you like history.” - Touring_and_roaming
- Terrain & accessibility
- “Limited access to the house for wheelchair users (ie, going upstairs), please check in advance.” - Touring_and_roaming
- Facilities
- “The little tea room is a gem serving made to order sandwiches, cakes and drinks.” - Sandra Packman
Common questions about Stratfield Saye House
Where is Stratfield Saye House?
Stratfield Saye House is in Hampshire, England, at Reading RG7 2BZ.
Do you need a ticket to visit Stratfield Saye House?
Yes - Stratfield Saye House is a staffed, ticketed attraction run by Wellesley family (Duke of Wellington). Ticket prices and opening hours change through the year, so check the official site before travelling.
Can you stay overnight at Stratfield Saye House?
Yes - Stratfield Saye House offers bookable accommodation, so you can spend the night in the stately home itself or within its grounds. See the Stately Homes You Can Sleep In guide for the full list and how each stay works.
What is the highlight of visiting Stratfield Saye House?
The guided tour of a house still lived in by the family, which reviewers say brings out far more than a self-guided walk round would.
Is Stratfield Saye House a ruin or still intact?
Stratfield Saye House is largely intact - Country seat of the Dukes of Wellington since 1817.
